Voter Turnout in SLO County Broke Records Last Year
The November 6, 2018 Gubernatorial General Election shattered many records for the County of San Luis Obispo:
The increased statewide turnout was due in part by California implementing a new law enabling eligible voters to register and vote as late as Election Day. This is known as conditional voter registration but is commonly referred to as same-day registration. The conditional voter registration period started after the traditional close of registration 15 days before the election and ran through the 8 p.m. close on Election Day at the County’s main offices in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. Approximately 700 voters came to the County Clerk-Recorder’s elections offices on Election Day to exercise their right to vote by utilizing Conditional Voter Registration.
To prepare for the spring 2018 primary election, the County Clerk-Recorder’s office implemented a new paper-based ballot counting and tabulation system.
This new system was used for both the primary election in the spring and the general election in November 2018 and was designed for high volume. It uses high-speed scanners; full ballot image scans; ballot on-demand technology; enhanced security with audit logs; and software that detects ballot exceptions (overvotes, stray marks, blank ballots, write-ins), which can be adjudicated electronically by staff to streamline the vote-counting process.
This results in a reliable, accurate, and modern vote tabulation system that the public expects with counting their votes, thereby increasing public trust and satisfaction with increased transparency and quicker results and certification of elections. This system will continue to be an integral part of the vote counting and tabulation process.
The November 6, 2018 Gubernatorial General Election shattered many records for the County of San Luis Obispo:
- an unprecedented number of registered voters – 172,544 eclipsed the previous record of 168,257 during the 2016 election (a presidential election!)
- 130,848 vote-by-mail (VBM) ballots were sent to voters representing 77.8% of voters, the most VBM ballots ever sent during an election.
- the highest percentage of voter participation at 74.39% for a gubernatorial election, well above the estimated 64% statewide turnout
The increased statewide turnout was due in part by California implementing a new law enabling eligible voters to register and vote as late as Election Day. This is known as conditional voter registration but is commonly referred to as same-day registration. The conditional voter registration period started after the traditional close of registration 15 days before the election and ran through the 8 p.m. close on Election Day at the County’s main offices in San Luis Obispo and Atascadero. Approximately 700 voters came to the County Clerk-Recorder’s elections offices on Election Day to exercise their right to vote by utilizing Conditional Voter Registration.
To prepare for the spring 2018 primary election, the County Clerk-Recorder’s office implemented a new paper-based ballot counting and tabulation system.
This new system was used for both the primary election in the spring and the general election in November 2018 and was designed for high volume. It uses high-speed scanners; full ballot image scans; ballot on-demand technology; enhanced security with audit logs; and software that detects ballot exceptions (overvotes, stray marks, blank ballots, write-ins), which can be adjudicated electronically by staff to streamline the vote-counting process.
This results in a reliable, accurate, and modern vote tabulation system that the public expects with counting their votes, thereby increasing public trust and satisfaction with increased transparency and quicker results and certification of elections. This system will continue to be an integral part of the vote counting and tabulation process.
How Can You Help?
The election process is not only about casting a vote but having that vote counted and it takes a well-organized, trained staff of temporary election and precinct workers to help accomplish this. They are an incredible support team for the San Luis Obispo County elections office and their contribution during elections is invaluable.
These temporary workers are a vital part of the election process of ensuring that San Luis Obispo County voters have the right to cast a ballot, which is an essential part of our democracy. With the pending primary election less than a year away the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is now recruiting for election and precinct worker help.
The following is a list of ways you can become involved in the elections process:
We would love to have you come join our team for the next election cycle. We have started our recruitment so if you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out the Precinct Worker Application or if you have any questions please contact our office at 805-781-4989 or by email at [email protected]
Thank you very much for helping us serve the voters of San Luis Obispo County.
These temporary workers are a vital part of the election process of ensuring that San Luis Obispo County voters have the right to cast a ballot, which is an essential part of our democracy. With the pending primary election less than a year away the County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is now recruiting for election and precinct worker help.
The following is a list of ways you can become involved in the elections process:
- Precinct workers are paid $97, plus pay for training, for working from 6am until 9 or 9:30pm, when Election Day tasks are complete. Precinct worker positions are:
Clerks - work specifically at individual precincts in a variety of duties to assist voters
Voter assistance clerks - used in larger facilities to greet and direct voters
Voting system clerks - work with our new accessible voting devices, allowing disabled voters to cast a ballot with minimum assistance. - Inspectors are paid $137plus pay for the mandatory training. They must have an in-depth knowledge of Election Day procedures. Duties include picking up and inventorying supplies, contact assigned precinct workers.
- Lead inspectors are paid $162 plus pay for the mandatory training. They must have an in-depth knowledge of Election Day procedures. Duties include picking up and inventorying supplies, contacting their polling place and other Inspectors as needed. Previous inspector experience is preferred.
- Adopt a poll. Groups can get involved by participating in our successful Adopt-A-Poll Program, which is for organizations, service clubs, church groups, or others to volunteer by staffing a precinct. In addition to your group earning up to $550 per precinct staffed, your group will have the satisfaction of knowing that it has contributed to a vital part of democracy in San Luis Obispo County and be a great fundraiser for the organization. Adopt-A-Poll workers also have training opportunities.
We would love to have you come join our team for the next election cycle. We have started our recruitment so if you are interested in any of these positions, please fill out the Precinct Worker Application or if you have any questions please contact our office at 805-781-4989 or by email at [email protected]
Thank you very much for helping us serve the voters of San Luis Obispo County.
Electronic Recordings of Official Records
On September 26, 2017, the County Board of Supervisors approved participation in the Electronic Recording Delivery Act of 2004, authorizing the County Clerk-Recorder to adopt an electronic recording delivery system, as well as impose a $1 per recorded instrument fee to fund the ERDA program.
The County Clerk-Recorder implemented electronic recording (e-recording) during the Spring of 2018, utilizing technology provided with the current recording system. Since going live in April 2018, 33% of all documents recorded were submitted electronically, amounting to 17,702 documents.
Now that additional agents and submitters are participating with San Luis Obispo County, we currently process 60% of all recordings electronically, with more submitters requesting approval every week. As the usage increases, it will contribute to greater efficiencies for the department, additional postage cost savings, and higher satisfaction among our customers.
The electronic recording process is a time-saver and convenience for both staff and customers. Customers can now keep possession of their original signed documents, be notified if there is a correction needed to record a document, receive confirmation of recording and recording information as soon as a document is processed, and are no longer required to come into the office or rely on mailing services to complete their transaction.
The County Clerk-Recorder’s staff saves time and tax dollars by no longer having to count pages, scan documents, process checks, and mail back recorded documents for electronically recorded documents. All recording fees for electronic documents are paid for by automatic deposit by the authorized agent the day following recordation, so the risk of returned checks is eliminated for these documents.
The County previously had e-recording experience with government to government electronic lien recording, which allowed governmental agencies, such as the California Employment Development Department, the California Franchise Tax Board, and our local Tax Collector, to submit their lien and release documents electronically. The new program has allowed large-volume customers the ability to submit their real property documents without having to come into the office or mail original documents to the Clerk-Recorder.
This program is authorized and regulated by the State Attorney General’s office and includes many security measures, including fingerprinting requirements for all users, Department of Justice oversight and auditing, and clearly defined memorandums of understanding with all parties involved. It is a safe, secure, and convenient method of conducting business.
The program allows counties to work with authorized agents to transmit documents for recording on behalf of customers (submitters) through secured online services. Customers include entities such as title companies, financial institutions, lenders, settlement agents and other government agencies. The Clerk-Recorder implemented this program in steps. It began with the three local title companies, then expanded to now include five e-recording agents and almost five hundred individual submitters.
The County Clerk-Recorder implemented electronic recording (e-recording) during the Spring of 2018, utilizing technology provided with the current recording system. Since going live in April 2018, 33% of all documents recorded were submitted electronically, amounting to 17,702 documents.
Now that additional agents and submitters are participating with San Luis Obispo County, we currently process 60% of all recordings electronically, with more submitters requesting approval every week. As the usage increases, it will contribute to greater efficiencies for the department, additional postage cost savings, and higher satisfaction among our customers.
The electronic recording process is a time-saver and convenience for both staff and customers. Customers can now keep possession of their original signed documents, be notified if there is a correction needed to record a document, receive confirmation of recording and recording information as soon as a document is processed, and are no longer required to come into the office or rely on mailing services to complete their transaction.
The County Clerk-Recorder’s staff saves time and tax dollars by no longer having to count pages, scan documents, process checks, and mail back recorded documents for electronically recorded documents. All recording fees for electronic documents are paid for by automatic deposit by the authorized agent the day following recordation, so the risk of returned checks is eliminated for these documents.
The County previously had e-recording experience with government to government electronic lien recording, which allowed governmental agencies, such as the California Employment Development Department, the California Franchise Tax Board, and our local Tax Collector, to submit their lien and release documents electronically. The new program has allowed large-volume customers the ability to submit their real property documents without having to come into the office or mail original documents to the Clerk-Recorder.
This program is authorized and regulated by the State Attorney General’s office and includes many security measures, including fingerprinting requirements for all users, Department of Justice oversight and auditing, and clearly defined memorandums of understanding with all parties involved. It is a safe, secure, and convenient method of conducting business.
The program allows counties to work with authorized agents to transmit documents for recording on behalf of customers (submitters) through secured online services. Customers include entities such as title companies, financial institutions, lenders, settlement agents and other government agencies. The Clerk-Recorder implemented this program in steps. It began with the three local title companies, then expanded to now include five e-recording agents and almost five hundred individual submitters.
